A number of local students who attend college in the Boston area got caught in the middle of Friday's massive lockdown as authorities searched for those involved in Monday's bombings.

"We were just told classes were cancelled and to not leave our rooms," said Claire Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald, from Mid-City attends Harvard University in Cambridge, a suburb outside of Boston that sits just east of Watertown where the search for the second suspect in connection with the bombings is focused.

"We just heard sirens all night long from our room," Fitzgerald said. "Its been a tense week for everybody and I think having something like this happen in a city like Boston has been very scary."

A second student, Sabrina Roussel of Gretna, is a student at Emerson College in the heart of Boston, just blocks from where Monday's explosions killed three and injured dozens.

"It's just been a very uncomfortable week and by Friday, everyone's really exhausted by all the news and we're trying to take it step-by-step," Roussel said.

Both women's college campuses were placed on lockdown early Friday morning, as an unprecedented shutdown of a major American city was underway.

"Everyone on campus is being kind of chill, trying to find some sort of escape from everything, just because it's been an exhausting week," said Roussel.

"But I think everyone is relieved to hear that we're getting somewhere now and everyone is holding out hope that this whole ordeal is over soon," said Fitzgerald.

These two young ladies both survived Hurricane Katrina and said at times this week reminded them of what they experienced then.

"I think what I experienced during Katrina allowed me to stay calmer during this situation," Fitzgerald said.

"In a way it's similar," Roussel said. "But I think it's separate in that, at least back home with hurricanes, that's a disaster you can prepare for."